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North Oldham's Sam Jenkins celebrates his win on points over Trigg County's Colin Stevens, 4-3, in the 182 lb. class bout of the KHSAA state wrestling championships in Alltech Arena in Lexington, Ky.
16 February 2019 David R. Lutman/Special to the Courier-Journal

North Oldham's Sam Jenkins celebrates his win on points over Trigg County's Colin Stevens, 4-3, in the 182 lb. class bout of the KHSAA state wrestling championships by jumping into the arms of his coach, Cris Reed.
16 February 2019 David R. Lutman/Special to the Courier-Journal

Trigg County's Colin Stevens is clutched by North Oldham's Sam Jenkins, right, in the 182 lb. championship bout of the KHSAA state wrestling tournament.
16 February 2019 David R. Lutman/Special to the Courier-Journal

St. Xavier's Ben DePrest holds onto the neck of Johnson Central's Matthew Horn, left, in the 195 lb. contest of the KHSAA wrestling championship,
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

St. Xavier's Ben DePrest, right, tries to escape the grasp of Johnson Central's Matthew Horn, left, in the 195 lb. contest of the KHSAA wrestling championship,
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

St. Xavier's Ben DePrest, right, tries to escape the grasp of Johnson Central's Matthew Horn, left, in the 195 lb. contest of the KHSAA wrestling championship,
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

Johnson Central's Matthew Horn raises his arms up in triumph after defeating St. Xavier's Ben DePrest 3-2 in a tie-breaker of the 195 lb. contest of the KHSAA wrestling championship,
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

In the 145 lb. class, Franklin County's Nathaniel Lawrence, left, and St. Xavier's Nathan Wheeler square off during the KHSAA state wrestling championships in Alltech Arena in Lexington, Ky.
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

Trigg County's Colin Stevens, right, struggles to hold onto the neck of North Oldham's Sam Jenkins, top, in the 182 lb. championship bout of the KHSAA state wrestling tournament.
16 February 2019 David R. Lutman/Special to the Courier-Journal

In the 145 lb. class, Franklin County's Nathaniel Lawrence, left, and St. Xavier's Nathan Wheeler square off during the KHSAA state wrestling championships in Alltech Arena in Lexington, Ky.
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

In the 145 lb. class, Franklin County's Nathaniel Lawrence, bottom, looks to escape the grasp of St. Xavier's Nathan Wheelerduring the KHSAA state wrestling championships in Alltech Arena in Lexington, Ky.
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

St. Xavier's Nathan Wheeler, top right, tries to control Franklin County's Nathaniel Lawrence, bottom, in the 145 lb. class, of the KHSAA state wrestling championships in Alltech Arena in Lexington, Ky.
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

St. Xavier assistant wrestling coach Isaac Knable shouts instructions to Nathan Wheeler as Wheeler wrestles in the 145 lb. contest of the KHSAA state wrestling championships.
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

St. Xavier's Nathan Wheeler, top right, keeps his feet around the torso of Franklin County's Nathaniel Lawrence, bottom, in the 145 lb. class, of the KHSAA state wrestling championships in Alltech Arena in Lexington, Ky.
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

St. Xavier's Nathan Wheeler, top right, and Franklin County's Nathaniel Lawrence, bottom, vie for control in the 145 lb. class, of the KHSAA state wrestling championships in Alltech Arena in Lexington, Ky.
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

St. Xavier's Nathan Wheeler, bottom right, tries to get free of the grasp of Franklin County's Nathaniel Lawrence, left, in the 145 lb. class, of the KHSAA state wrestling championships in Alltech Arena in Lexington, Ky.
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

St. Xavier's Nathan Wheeler, bottom tries to get free of the grasp of Franklin County's Nathaniel Lawrence, top, in the 145 lb. class, of the KHSAA state wrestling championships in Alltech Arena in Lexington, Ky.
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

St. Xavier's Nathan Wheeler, left, has his arm raised in victory, defeating Franklin County's Nathaniel Lawrence, right, in the 145 lb. class, of the KHSAA state wrestling championships, on points, 6-5.
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

Male's Zane Brown, left, and Union County's Stephen Little square off during the 160 lb. wrestling championship bout of the KHSAA state wrestling championships in Alltech Arena in Lexington, Ky.
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

Union County's Stephen Little puts his hand on the forehead of Male's Zane Brown during the 160 lb. championship match of the KHSAA state wrestling championships in Alltech Arena in Lexington, Ky.
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

Male's Zane Brown, left, and Union County's Stephen Little lock up during the 160 lb. wrestling championship bout of the KHSAA state wrestling championships in Alltech Arena in Lexington, Ky.
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

Male's Zane Brown, top left, holds onto Union County's Stephen Little as Little drives them both out of bounds during the 160 lb. wrestling championship bout of the KHSAA state wrestling championships in Alltech Arena in Lexington, Ky.
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

Male's Zane Brown forces Union County's Stephen Little on his back during the 160 lb. wrestling championship bout of the KHSAA state wrestling championships in Alltech Arena in Lexington, Ky.
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

Male's Zane Brown has his hand raised after Brown pinned his opponent in the 160 lb. championship bout of the KHSAA state wrestling championships in Alltech Arena in Lexington, Ky.
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

Male's Zane Brown jumps up into the arms of Male head wrestling coach Chris McCoy after Brown pinned his opponent in the 160 lb. championship bout of the KHSAA state wrestling championships in Alltech Arena in Lexington, Ky.
16 February 2019 Special to Courier-Journal by David R. Lutman

Trigg County's Colin Stevens tries to escape the grip of North Oldham's Sam Jenkins, right, in the 182 lb. championship bout of the KHSAA state wrestling tournament.
16 February 2019 David R. Lutman/Special to the Courier-Journal

North Oldham's Sam Jenkins, bottom, tries to hold onto the leg of Trigg County's Colin Stevens during the 182 lb. championship bout of the KHSAA state wrestling tournament.
16 February 2019 David R. Lutman/Special to the Courier-Journal

Trigg County's Colin Stevens's leg is clutched by North Oldham's Sam Jenkins, as Jenkins tries to turn Stevens on his back in the 182 lb. championship bout of the KHSAA state wrestling tournament.
16 February 2019 David R. Lutman/Special to the Courier-Journal

North Oldham's Sam Jenkins, bottom, tries to rollTrigg County's Colin Stevens during the 182 lb. championship bout of the KHSAA state wrestling tournament.
16 February 2019 David R. Lutman/Special to the Courier-Journal

North Oldham's Sam Jenkins, left, and Trigg County's Colin Stevens square off during the 182 lb. contest of the KHSAA state wrestling championships.
16 February 2019 David R. Lutman/Special to the Courier-Journal

Trigg County's Colin Stevens, right, struggles to hold onto the neck of North Oldham's Sam Jenkins, top, in the 182 lb. championship bout of the KHSAA state wrestling tournament.
16 February 2019 David R. Lutman/Special to the Courier-Journal

North Oldham's Sam Jenkins, left, tries to drive Trigg County's Colin Stevens, right, to his back in the 182 lb. championship bout of the KHSAA state wrestling tournament.
16 February 2019 David R. Lutman/Special to the Courier-Journal

Trigg County's Colin Stevens tries to bring down North Oldham's Sam Jenkins, right, in the 182 lb. championship at the KHSAA state wrestling tournament.
16 February 2019 David R. Lutman/Special to the Courier-Journal

North Oldham's Sam Jenkins, left, and Trigg County's Colin Stevens square off during the 182 lb. contest of the KHSAA state wrestling championships.
16 February 2019 David R. Lutman/Special to the Courier-Journal

North Oldham's Sam Jenkins, left, tries to drive Trigg County's Colin Stevens, right, to his back in the 182 lb. championship bout of the KHSAA state wrestling tournament.
16 February 2019 David R. Lutman/Special to the Courier-Journal

North Oldham's Sam Jenkins, bottom, tries to hold onto the leg of Trigg County's Colin Stevens during the 182 lb. championship bout of the KHSAA state wrestling tournament.
16 February 2019 David R. Lutman/Special to the Courier-Journal

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Technically speaking, North Oldham High School senior wrestler Sam Jenkins had no business accomplishing what he did Saturday.

He entered the State Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena ranked No. 8 in the state in his weight class, doesn’t plan to wrestle in college and admits the sport isn’t his primary focus.

“My summers do not include camp after camp after camp,” said Jenkins, adding that he nearly quit wrestling two months ago. “They include me staying at home, playing NBA2K, eating Doritos, just whatever I want to do.”

North Oldham's Sam Jenkins celebrates his win on points over Trigg County's Colin Stevens, 4-3, in the 182 lb. class bout of the KHSAA state wrestling championships in Alltech Arena in Lexington, Ky.
16 February 2019(Photo: David R. Lutman/Special to the Courier-Journal)

Whatever works.

Jenkins capped his surprising weekend Saturday with a 3-2 victory over Trigg County junior Colin Stevens to win the 182-pound state title. Of the 14 individual state champions crowned Saturday, Jenkins and Union County sophomore Dalton Russelburg (No. 8 at 152 pounds) were the only ones not ranked among the top three in his class.

“Everyone is surprised but us,” North Oldham coach Chris Reed said. “We used it for fuel. ‘No. 8 in the state. They only think your eighth.’ … Technically, on paper, mathematics, no, he wasn’t the best. But he made kids break. Physically, he dominated these guys.”

The team race was no contest, as Union County produced three individual champions and won its fourth straight team championship with 227 points. It was the 11th team championship for the Braves, two shy of Woodford County’s record 13.

North Oldham’s Jenkins defeated three higher-ranked wrestlers – Johnson Central freshman Levid Rodriguez (No. 6) in the quarterfinals, Walton-Verona junior Daulton Mayer (No. 2) in the semifinals and No. 5 Stevens in the final – to win his title and finish a 34-1 season.

Jenkins said he made up for his lack of technical ability with a toughness instilled by Reed.

“You go out there and you smash the kid’s head in the mat, you make them not want to wrestle anymore,” Jenkins said. “They won’t wrestle you. They will give you what you want.”

It was the final match of Jenkins’ career, as he plans to enter the Air Force after graduating from North Oldham.

Male’s Brown pinned Union County freshman Stephen Little with 28 seconds remaining to win the 160-pound title and received the Orville Williams Most Outstanding Wrestler award. Brown – the 152-pound champion as a sophomore and junior – became the first Louisville wrestler to win three straight state titles since Trinity’s John Fahy won four in a row from 2009-12.

Brown won all five of his state tournament matches with pins but was pushed by Little, who trailed just 1-0 before falling.

“Union always has great game plans because they have amazing coaches, so I knew they would know what to do against me and that it wouldn’t be easy,” said Brown, who has signed with Lindsey Wilson College. “He was a lot longer than me, so it was hard for me to score. … I wanted to (finish with five pins), obviously, but I wasn’t expecting it.”

Male coach Chris McCoy said he was relieved that Brown completed the three-peat.

“There’s still pressure when you have a kid who’s now 170-8,” McCoy said, referring to Brown’s career record. “He’s got the target on his back, and everybody was watching him.”

St. X’s Wheeler beat Franklin County junior Nathaniel Lawrence 6-5 to take the 145-pound title and finish a 34-3 season.

Wheeler, who will wrestle at Indiana Tech, said his attitude was “to dominate.”

“Do I think the match should have been that close? No,” he said. “But I got the job done, and I’m a state champ. That’s all that matters.”

Wheeler was one of two St. X wrestlers to reach the finals. Senior Ben DePrest, ranked No. 1, lost to No. 2 Matthew Horn of Johnson Central 3-2 in overtime in the 195-pound final.

St. X coach Jim Kraeszig said he was pleased with his team’s third-place finish.

“I thought coming in we were the fifth-best team in the state, and to place third surpassed my expectations,” Kraeszig said. “We had guys step up and place that I wasn’t sure would. … We’ll be tougher next year.”